LOYAL LIDELL
The 6-7 senior forward didn’t transfer because Morgan Park ‘is my school.’ And now, he’s averaging a double-double for the Mustangs.
When head coach Nick Irvin left Morgan Park in May 2020 to become an assistant at Western Illinois, Lidell Miller had just finished his sophomore season.
He saw most of his Mustangs teammates decide to transfer.
But Miller stayed to play for new coach Chris Gardner, who was an assistant under Irvin.
“Morgan Park was close to home and it was my school,” Miller said. “Coach ‘CG’ has been here since my freshman year. I was struggling my freshman year. I was overweight and I was running and I couldn’t make the times.
“Coach ‘CG’ was really motivating me. He kept pushing me when I was so tired. I didn’t have any relationships like that with other coaches anywhere, so why would I leave?”
Miller is now a senior forward who is trying to lead Morgan Park (8-7) back to prominence. He’s having a huge season, averaging 19.6 points and 14.9 rebounds.
He has recorded six straight double-doubles, including a 37-point, 13-rebound performance in a Jan. 17 win over St. Laurence.
“Lidell is the one helping us reset the program and establish the culture we want here at Morgan Park,” Gardner said. “When everyone left, he was the one guy who stayed. It’s going to be a great story when he gets his opportunity at the next level.”
In that regard, Miller is working to regain the attention of college recruiters.
Gardner said Miller was gaining interest from college coaches as a sophomore but fell off the radar a bit, thanks in large part to him getting out of shape during the pandemic.
“I gained 20 or more pounds,” Miller said. “I was up to 260. I just had to cut down on the stuff that I don’t need to eat but that I like to eat. I had to cut out junk, fried chicken, McDonald’s.
“I did a lot of running and worked out a lot. When we had open gyms, I’d come play, work out and get extra shots up. I’m still working
extra hard to drop it. I’ve still got a lot of work to do, turning those pounds into muscle.”
The 6-foot-7 Miller, who’s down to around 245, is a stronger force around the basket. He’s also looking to leave his mark on Morgan Park.
“Knowing what’s at stake, knowing it’s my last year, I knew I had to work hard,” he said. “I knew I had to be a leader this year. It’s really important to me to bring Morgan Park back up.”
MLK champs: Lemont took on some of the other top Class 3A teams in the state at the Deerfield MLK
Tournament and came away with a championship, beating Notre Dame, Lake Forest and St. Patrick.
Lemont beat the Shamrocks 58-50 in the Jan. 17 championship game.
“It’s always nice to win, of course, but I was more happy with the way we competed,” Lemont coach Rick Runaas said. “We’ve been playing some games that haven’t been that close.
“To go up there and be in tight, possession-to-possession games, grind it out and find a way to win, that was especially gratifying.”
Lemont (17-4), which also beat T.F. North and T.F. South last week, has won eight in a row and has not lost in 2022.
Gura honored: Joliet Catholic coach Joe Gura, who is retiring at the end of the season, was honored before the Hilltoppers’ game Friday against Carmel.
Gura’s 49-year coaching career also included stints as a head coach at Lockport and T.F. South. He’s coached Joliet Catholic since 2011.
“What’s important is that I loved not only what I did with basketball but I hope I helped some kids along the way,” Gura said.